Recloseable tear strip carton having cover lock



March 21, 1967 TE Y 3,310,222

RECLOSEABLE TEAR STRIP CARTON HAVING COVER LOCK Filed April 27, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 flemzeifi .Tja iiezy RECLOSEABLE TEAR STRIP CARTON HAVING COVER LOCK Filed April 27, 1965 March 21, 1967 K. T. BUTTERY 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 21, 1967 K. T. BUTTERY 3,310,222

RECLOSEABLE TEAR STRIP CARTON HAVING COVER LOCK Filed April 27, 1965 I 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 75 6227? 62% T flak e13 J March 21, 1967 K. T. BUTTERY 3,310,222

RECLOSEABLE TEAR STRIP CARTON HAVING COVER LOCK Filed April 27, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

United States Patent Ofiice 3,313,222 Patented Mar. 21, 1967 The present invention relates to cartons, and is more particularly concerned with an improved scalable carton having severance means provided in its cover flaps, and 7 having means provided whereby the cover may be reclosed and locked in place after the carton has been once opened, and with a carton blank from which said carton may be erected.

Cartons having a so-called flip-top cover hingedly connected to the edge of the rear panel, and which may be erected with the cover in sealed condition and provided with severance means so that the cover may be opened as by the removal of tear strips, have become exceedingly popular, particularly for use as containers for items such as ice cream, cookies, crackers, and other foods. Once the tear strip is removed, the cover may be opened for access to some or all of the contents, and may be reclosed for further storage until the contents have been completely consumed. However, for certain purposes it is desirable to have a structure wherein the cover of the carton may be not only closed, but also locked, so that even if the carton is accidentally dropped or turned over, the cover will not open to discharge the contents of the carton. Prior cartons of the type described have hitherto been difficult and costly to assemble.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an end-filling top-opening carton of the flip top type which may be sealed and subsequently opened by fracturing certain panels provided with severance lines. It is another object to provide such a carton which may be readily reclosed when it is desired to store unconsumed contents. It is a further object to provide a carton of the type described which may be formed from an integral cut and scored blank. It is a still further object to provide a carton of the type described which can be readily erected, end filled, and subsequently sealed by means of relatively simple and inexpensive machinery. It is a primary object of the invention to provide a carton of the type described having means for locking the cover in place once the carton has been opened. It is an additional object to provide a carton having a locking cover, which cover may be manually closed and opened many times without tearing of the locking structure or rendering it inoperative. It is still a further object to provide a carton of the type described having a novel locking structure provided in the cover thereof, which structure is particularly easy to assemble. ture which may be readily opened. The accomplishment of the foregoing and additional objects will become more fully apparent hereinafter.

The invention in its preferred embodiment is illustrated by the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a cut and scored blank for forming a carton according to the invention, viewed from the inside surface thereof.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the blank shown in FIG. 1 after the lock flaps have been folded and glued in place.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the blank of FIG. 2 partially glued in the forin of a folded sleeve.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the completely assembled and sealed carton.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the carton of FIG. 4

after it has been opened.

It is another object to provide a carton struc-- FIG. 6 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the carton taken at the line 66 of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view similar to that of FIG. 6, showing the edges of the lock flaps in engagement with the detent flaps.

According to the invention, a carton is formed from an integral blank comprising a bottom, front and rear side Walls, end walls, and a cover. The cover is provided with three cover flaps or walls having severance lines provided therein defining detachable means such as glue strips for being afiixed to the front wall and end walls of the carton. The free edge of the front wall of the cover is provided at each end with a flap folded over and ad hered to the inner surface of the cover front wall forming a detent, and the free edge of the front wall is provided with a lock flap at each end folded over and adapted to have its edge in engagement with the edge of the detent flap of the cover when the cover is closed, thus providing locking means for the carton cover. When it is desired to open the cover, the lock flap-s may be manually forced out of engagement with the detent flaps without causing damage to either structure.

In a preferred form, the carton of the invention is constructed from an integral blank as illustrated in FIG. 1. The structure comprises a bottom 1, a front wall 2 hingedly connected to one edge of the bottom, and a rear Wall 3 hingedly connected to the other edge of the bottom. The bottom is provided at its ends with end flaps 4, the front wall is provided with end flaps 5, and the rear wall 3, is provided with end flaps 6. A cover 7 is hingedly connected to the edge of the rear wall 3 and is provided with cover flaps comprising outer end wall panels 8 and 9, and a front wall panel 10. The outer end wall panel 8 is provided with a severance line 11 defining a cover end wall .12, and a glue strip 13. The outer end Wall 9 is provided with a severance line 14 defining a cover wall 15, and a glue strip 16. The severance lines 11 and 14 preferably have the configuration shown to facilitate the opening of the cover. The severance line may, however, have other configurations, as for example discontinuous slits or alternating cut scores and perforation-s, whether or not spaced laterally from each other. Alternatively, the score line may be replaced by a tear strip defined by spaced-apart severance or fracture lines of any suitable configuration.

The front wall panel 10 is cut and scored to provide front Wall panel end or glue flap-s 17 and 18, which have foldover or retaining flaps 19 and 20 connected thereto, respectively. Severance lines 21 and 2-2 and slits 23, 24, and 25 cooperate to define a detachable glue flap 2d. The slit 23 cooperates with score lines 27 and 28 to define a detent flap (29. The slit 24 cooperates with the score lines 30 and 31 to define a detent flap 32. As a result, the detent flap 29 is hingedly connected to both the front wall flap 1i) and the foldover or retaining flap l9, and the detent flap 32 is hingedly connected to both the front wall flap 10 and the foldover or retaining flap 20. A pair of lock flaps 33 and 34 are provided at the free edge of the front wall. As shown in the drawings, recesses 35 and 36 may be provided at the forward edge of the glue strips 13 and 16.

In assembling the carton, the foldover or retaining flaps 19 and 2t and detent flaps 29 and 32 are folded over and glued to the end or glue flaps 17 and 18 and front wall flap 10 respectively. The front wall 2 is then folded over at a score line against the inner surface of the bottom 1. The lock flaps 33 and 3-4 are then folded back against the outer surface of the front wall 2, as shown in FIG.

'2. The glue flap 26 may then be glued to the front wall 2, to form a flat semi-assembled carton in which form a large number of cartons occupying only a small space may be shipped to the packager for filling and sealing, as

shown in FIG. 3. To erect the carton further for filling, the folded carton may be squared up, as on a conventional squaring machine. One end is then closed by folding in the flaps 5 and 6 and then the end wall flap 4. The outer end wall panel 8 or 9 is then folded over and glued by means of the glue strip 13 or 16 to the previously folded flaps. The carton may then be filled at theend remaining open. After filling, the open end may be folded and glued in a manner similar to that described with regard to the first end, resulting in a sealed carton, as shown in FIG. 4.

To open the carton, the cover edge may be grasped at the slit and the severance lines 21, 22, 11, and 14 fractured, and cover front wall panel 10 separated from glue flap 26 at the severance lines 21 and 22. Alternatively, the cover may be grasped and punched in with the thumbs at the recesses and 36 and either one of the two corners lifted .and pulled upward. After the cover has been opened, the contents may be removed from the carton, either completely or in part. If it is desired to store unconsumed contents, the cover may be reclosed. In closing, as the cover reaches the closed position, the lock flaps 33 and 34 engage the detent flaps 29 :and 32 respectively in edge-to-edge arrangement. The cover is thereby retained in place with sufficient force so that it will not open even if the carton is accidentally dropped. When it is desired to reopen the cover, a sufiicient force is applied so that the lock flaps 33 and 34 are forced out of engagement with the detent flaps 29 and 32, permitting the cover to be swung open.

The carton of the present invent-ion has a number of outstanding features, including a flip-top, severance lines for facilitating the opening of the carton, and endfilling type of construction. Additionally, it has the advantage over previously disclosed cartons in that, in combination with the features described, it is provided with means for closing and locking the cover in place after the carton has once been opened. Moreover, the arrangement of the locking means comprising a pair of detent flaps connected to foldover flaps adhesively affixed to the front wall of the cover cooperating with complementary free-swinging lock flaps provided at the ends of the front wall of the carton facilitates assembly and facile operation of the carton.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the exact details of construction, operation, or exact materials or embodiments shown and described, as obvious modifications and equivalents will be apparent to one skilled in the art, and the invention is therefore to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

-I claim:

1. A carton formed of an integral blank cut and scored to provide a bottom member, a rear wall member, and a front wall member, and end flaps hingedly connected to said members, a cover hingedly connected to the upper edge of said rear wall member and provided with cover flaps comprising cover end wall panels and a cover front wall panel, said cover end walls panels and front wall panel being provided with detachable means adhesively securing said cover end wall panels to said end flaps and said cover front wall panel to said front wall member, said cover front wall panel being provided at each end with an end flap comprising a glue flap and a retaining flap hingedly connected and folded over and adhesively affixed to said glue flap, a detent flap at each end of said cover front wall hingedly connected to the free edge thereof and hingedly connected at one end to an end of one of said retaining flaps, said detent flaps being adhesively affixed to the inner surface of said cover front wall panel, and said front wall member being provided at each end of the free edge thereof with lock flaps folded over on the outer surface thereof, said detent flaps and said lock flaps being positioned in complementary edgeto-edge engagement when said cover is closed for locking said cover in place, and whereby said carton may be re- 4 opened by forcibly lifting said cover to disengage said detent flaps from said l-ock flaps.

2. A carton formed of an integral blank cut and scored to provide a bottom member, a rear wall member, and a front wall member, and end flaps hingedly connected to said members, a cover hingedly connected to the upper edge of said rear wall member and provided with cover flaps comprising cover end wall panels and a cover front wall panel, said cover end wall panels and front wall panel being provided with detachable means adhesively securing said cover end wall panels to said end flaps and said cover front wall panel to said front wall member, said cover front wall panel being provided at each end with an end flap comprising a glue flap and a retaining flap hingedly connected and folded over and adhesively affixed to said glue flap, a detent flap at each end of said cover front wall hingedly connected to the free edge thereof and hingedly connected at one end to an end of one of said retaining flaps, said detent flaps being adhesively affixed to the inner surface of said cover front wall panel, and said front Wall member being provided at each end of the free edge thereof with lock flaps folded over on the outer surface thereof, said detent flaps and said lock flaps being positioned in complementary edge-to-edge engagement when said cover is closed for locking said cover in place, the forward portions of said cover end flaps being so recessed that said detachable means adhesively securing said cover end wall panels to said end flaps stop short of the forward end of said cover end wall panels, whereby said detachable means may be detached by depressing said end flaps below the recesses of said cover end flaps, and whereby said carton may be reopened by forcibly lifting said cover to disengage said detent flaps from said lock flaps.

3. An integral blank for forming a carton cut and scored to provide a bottom member, a rear wall member, and a front wall member, and end flaps hingedly connected to said members, a cover hingedly connected to the upper edge of said rear wall member and provided with cover flaps comprising cover end wall panels and a cover front wall panel, said cover end wall panels and front wall panel being provided with detachable means adapted for adhesively securing said cover end wall panels to said end flaps and said cover front wall panel to said front wall member, said cover front wall panel being provided at each end with an end flap comprising a glue flap and a retaining flap hingedly connected and adapted to be folded over and adhesively aflixed to said glue flap, a detent flap at each end of said cover front wall hingedly connected to the free edge thereof and hingedly connected at one end to an end of one of said retaining flaps, said detent flaps adapted for being adhesively affixed to the inner surface of said cover front wall panel, and said front wall member being provided at each end of the free edge thereof with lock flaps adapted to be folded over on the outer surface thereof, said detent flaps and said lock flaps being positioned so as to be in complementary edgeto-edge engagement when said carton is erected and said cover closed for locking said cover in place, and whereby said carton erected from said blank may be reopened by forcibly lifting said cover to disengage said detent flaps from said lock flaps.

4. A carton formed of an integral blank cut and scored to provide a bottom member, a rear wall member, and a front wall member, and end flaps hingedly connected to said members, a cover hingedly connected to the upper edge of said rear wall member and provided with cover flaps comprising cover end wall panels and a cover front wall panel, said cover end Wall panels and front wall panel being provided with detachable means adapted for adhesively securing said cover end wall panels to said end flaps and said cover front wall panel to said front wall member, said cover front wall Panel being provided at each end with an end flap comprising a glue flap and a retaining flap hingedly connected and adapted to be folded over and adhesively afiixed to said glue flap, a detent flap at each end of said cover front wall hingedly connected to the free edge thereof and hingedly connected at one end to an end of one of said retaining flaps, said detent fiaps being adapted to be 'adhesively affixed to the inner surface of said cover front wall panel, said front wall member being provided at each end of the free edge thereof with lock flaps adapted to be folded over on the outer surface thereof, said detent flaps and said lock flaps being positioned so as to be in complementary edge-to-edge engagement when said carton is erected and said cover is closed for locking said cover in place, the forward portions of said cover end flaps being so recessed that said detachable means adapted for ad hesively securing said cover end wall panels to said end flaps stop short of the forward end of said cover end wall panels of the erected carton, whereby said detachable means may be detached by depressing said end flaps below the recesses of said cover end flaps, and whereby said erected carton may be reopened by forcibly lifting said cover to disengage said detent flaps from said lock flaps.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,369,385 2/1945 Ca-rruth et a1. 2,373,977 4/1945 Scherer 229 X 2,403,698 7/1946 Williamson et a1. 22944 2,777,629 1/ 1957 Osteen 229-45 X 3,191,848 6/ 1965 Meyers 2295 1 3,206,103 9/ 1965 Bixler 229-51 3,240,419 3/1966 Spiering et a1 229-51 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,009,835 11/ 1965 Great Britain.

JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Examiner.

DAVIS T. MOORHEAD, Examiner. 

1. A CARTON FORMED OF AN INTEGRAL BLANK CUT AND SCORED TO PROVIDE A BOTTOM MEMBER, A REAR WALL MEMBER, AND A FRONT WALL MEMBER, AND END FLAPS HINGEDLY CONNECTED TO SAID MEMBERS, A COVER HINGEDLY CONNECTED TO THE UPPER EDGE OF SAID REAR WALL MEMBER AND PROVIDED WITH COVER FLAPS COMPRISING COVER END WALL PANELS AND A COVER FRONT WALL PANEL, SAID COVER END WALLS PANELS AND FRONT WALL PANEL BEING PROVIDED WITH DETACHABLE MEANS ADHESIVELY SECURING SAID COVER END WALL PANELS TO SAID END FLAPS AND SAID COVER FRONT WALL PANEL TO SAID FRONT WALL MEMBER, SAID COVER FRONT WALL PANEL BEING PROVIDED AT EACH END WITH AN END FLAP COMPRISING A GLUE FLAP AND A RETAINING FLAP HINGEDLY CONNECTED AND FOLDED OVER AND ADHESIVELY AFFIXED TO SAID GLUE FLAP, A DETENT FLAP AT EACH END OF SAID COVER FRONT WALL HINGEDLY CONNECTED TO THE FREE EDGE THEREOF AND HINGEDLY CONNECTED TO THE FREE EDGE ONE OF SAID RETAINING FLAPS, SAID DETENT FLAPS BEING ADHESIVELY AFFIXED TO THE INNER SURFACE OF SAID COVER FRONT WALL PANEL, AND SAID FRONT WALL MEMBER BEING PROVIDED AT EACH END OF THE FREE EDGE THEREOF WITH LOCK FLAPS FOLDED OVER ON THE OUTER SURFACE THEREOF, SAID DETENT FLAPS AND SAID LOCK FLAPS BEING POSITIONED IN COMPLEMENTARY EDGETO-EDGE ENGAGEMENT WHEN SAID COVER IS CLOSED FOR LOCKING SAID COVER IN PLACE, AND WHEREBY SAID CARTON MAY BE REOPENED BY FORCIBLY LIFTING SAID COVER TO DISENGAGE SAID DETENT FLAPS FROM SAID LOCK FLAPS. 